Writings & Spiritual Musings

medicine

You know you are ‘here’. You are seeking a purpose. What greater purpose can there possibly be than to be here for someone else. And don’t you need someone else to give your life purpose?

If you were all alone on this Earth, what worth would there be in modern day goals and ambitions? Surely you’d already be King or Queen of the world. No need to become a billionaire, or a trillionaire, it’s all yours.

Now what?

But people of infinite wealth still seek answers to the age old question of who they are. So, money can’t be the solution. Why do so many of them give it away? Is it perhaps that they realise that they didn’t take the time to enjoy the journey? Perhaps they overlooked the people along the way? The rungs of the ladder, the people they may have climbed over or upon to get where they were going.

What if we asked the question, “Who am I here for?”

Forget about where you came from, or why are you here, perhaps just touch that inner knowledge and ‘know’ you ‘are’ here and you are here with talents and knowledge that can be of use to all. Who could YOU help and touch with YOUR abilities?

In our modern times we are so focused on what we can get for ourselves, we often overlook the very simple things we can do to help all of those around us. A tiny gesture and have an amazing impact. Something you don’t use or want any more, could someone else benefit from it? Taking your focus off yourself can ease stress. It ALWAYS feels good to help someone in need, and we are ALL in need of help.

Perhaps today, you’ll join me in a new mantra, not what’s in it for me and why am I here, but instead:

Imagine being at the top of your game in the prime of your life: a single parent, working Mother, a director and leader in your chosen profession, a published accademic… life is ‘sailing’ along perfectly, then suddenly your world is ‘capsized’ through no fault of your own… What you think is just a migraine turns out to be a potentially fatal brain aneurism…! You wake up in hospital confused, paralysed, partially blind, and wondering what on Earth has happened…

This is exactly what happened to Dr. Krista Breithaupt almost three years ago.

Now, in an emotional and courageous account of what happened before and after, she pours out her soul, her inspiration, her encouragement, and her hope to help educate and assist those who have suffered the same (or similar) condition, and to help those family members often left on the sidelines.

I’m always happy and proud when friends and collegues complete writing projects. Putting pen to paper and writing a complete novel or book is no easy feat. Many begin with high hopes, but often never reach the end. It’s humbling when I’m asked for advice and support, and I’m always keen to help.

In Krista’s case, when I first met her, whilst on vacation in Costa Rica last year as part of her healing team, I was so inspired by her story, her energy, her ability to be so gracious and giving after such an ordeal, that I told her she HAD TO write her story down and share it with the world. I felt like a bit of a bully at the time, because she was still coping with so much, but I knew her story had such power in it – such a message of hope – that it simply MUST be shared to a wider audience. I also felt it would be a very useful exercise for her to personally come to terms with what had happened – a form of catharsis, if you like – and stimulate greater healing within herself.

“This book is an amazing survival story.”

To give you an idea of her mindset when I first met her, she was still under the impression that she would return to work, picking up where she had left off almost two years earlier, and it would be ‘business as usual’. It was quite obvious even to a layman like myself, that this was a complete impossibility. She could barely cope with mundane daily tasks, let alone head up a division of over 200 doctors and research professionals!!! But it is exactly this stubbornness, her ability to face impossible challenges head-on, and yet remain happy, upbeat, and bubbly that I believe played a large part in the early stages of her recovery.

“Krista is an inspiration to us all!”

Throughout her book, you will see patterns emerge where she has overcome challenges in the past – seemingly with ease – be it relocating to a foreign land and adapting to a different culture, dealing with being a young, single Mother, studying and working full time, or a host of other things (I don’t want to spoil the story!) which I believe all prepared her for this life-changing event.

Even if you are fortunate enough not to have had a brain injury, this is an amazing survival story of persistence, strength, and hope. Krista’s easy-to-read writing style, accompanied by the humourous illustrations by her ‘baby’ brother, Andrew, makes this work even more appealing. Personally, I believe a TV network will pick up this story and make it into a film, as this subject gains far too little media coverage. Brain injury is much more common than we realize, and has such far-reaching consequences for so many, it is about time more people got the message.

Krista is part of the 20% of people that survive a brain aneurism, and I consider myself honoured and fortunate not only to have met her, but to consider myself part of her circle of friends. I truly hope her message reaches those in need. Please help in any way you can, even if it’s simply by sharing this blog post on social media.

Thank you Krista for having the courage to write down your journey, for being brave enough to share such personal details with the world at large, but mostly thank you for being ‘you’.

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ANTHONY DONNELLYblogs about all things writing, inspirational, and motivational. He has published a number of books for children and adults. His latest book, a short, inspirational parable THE SHEPHERD is currently climbing up the Amazon charts, and is available in Kindle or paperback. When not sat at his keyboard writing, he can be found in Costa Rica, North America, or somewhere in Europe motivating and coaching individuals and groups in self-development techniques and life-balance. Most recently you can see him back on the sets of films and in front of the modelling camera again.